Decentralized Medical Device Software Update Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Medical devices in a medical facility, especially those not directly connected to the Internet, often miss timely cybersecurity and software updates, increasing the risk of zero-day attacks due to delayed distribution.
Innovation Solution
A decentralized system with cloud software update agents and local agents in medical devices facilitates software update distribution via USB and Ethernet connections, using routing tables and security features like digital signatures and tamper-resistant chips to ensure secure and efficient update delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If medical devices are not directly connected to the Internet for security reasons, then security is improved, but software update timeliness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces cloud software update agents as intermediaries between the Internet and medical devices. These agents receive software updates from the cloud and distribute them locally through a mesh network of devices, eliminating the need for direct Internet connections while maintaining update timeliness. The agents act as mediators that bridge the gap between external update sources and isolated medical devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the update distribution function by separating cloud-based update management from local device installation. Cloud software update agents handle the complex tasks of receiving, verifying, and managing updates, while individual medical devices simply receive and install updates from their peer devices in the mesh network. This segmentation allows security isolation while maintaining update capabilities.
2Loss of time
If a decentralized mesh network is used for update distribution, then update timeliness is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes medical devices multi-functional by enabling them to serve both as treatment devices and as nodes in the update distribution mesh network. Each device can receive updates for itself and forward them to other devices, eliminating the need for dedicated update distribution infrastructure. This universality simplifies the overall system architecture while maintaining fast update distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The mesh network operates on a self-service basis where each medical device automatically participates in update distribution without requiring external coordination. Devices autonomously receive updates from peers, verify their integrity, and propagate them further in the network. This self-organizing behavior reduces the complexity of centralized management while ensuring timely updates.
3Reliability
If digital signatures and verification mechanisms are implemented, then security is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary verification actions by having cloud software update agents verify update authenticity and generate verification data before distribution. Medical devices receive pre-verified updates with attached digital signatures, eliminating the need for time-consuming verification processes during local installation. The heavy verification burden is shifted to the cloud-based agents in advance.
Data Source
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AI summary
In one exemplary mode, a medical system includes a first medical device, including an interface to connect to a network of multiple medical devices, and a processor to run medical device software, run a first medical device software update agent to receive identity information about the first medical device from the medical device software, send the identity information to a cloud medical device software update agent via the interface and at least one second medical device software update agent installed in at least one second medical device of the multiple medical devices, and receive, from the cloud medical device software update agent via the at least one second medical device software update agent, a medical device software update and a digital signature by a manufacturer of the first medical device, authenticate the received medical device software update based on the digital signature, and install the authenticated medical device software update.